In the Ming Dynasty, who lived in Yang Shen, the requirements for women's physique were extremely strict before entering the palace, even to the point of harshness, even a hair should be carefully looked at. Ji Xiaolan, a scholar in Qing Dynasty, wrote The Secret Agent of Hanshu, which recorded in detail the whole process of Ming Taizu Xi's choice of concubines in Zhu Youxiao.
Zhangyan is from Xiangfu County, Henan Province. In the first year of the apocalypse, Zhu Youxiao 16 years old, reaching marriageable age. It was also the rule set by Zhu Yuanzhang, the great emperor of the Ming Dynasty, to get married at the age of sixteen. At that time, Liu presided over the wedding, and selected a group of girls from 13 to 16 all over the country in advance. At that time, officials paid for their parents to accompany them to Beijing in person. They got together in the first month of that year. At that time, there were 5,000 girls in Beijing, including Zhang Yan.
Only made a rough appearance in the primary election, and the eunuch had the final say. 100 people, stand up according to age. The eunuch walked in front of them. Tall, short, fat and thin were all rejected, so 1000 people were washed away.
The next day, the eunuch was still in charge of facial examination. As on the first day, 100 people stood in groups and carefully looked at each girl's ears, eyes, mouth, nose, hair, skin, waist circumference and shoulder width. If one place is unqualified, even if she has a mole, she will be eliminated. Let the girl report at home and listen to her voice. Does she stutter? In this way, another 2,000 people were washed away.
On the third day, use tools to measure whether the figure is proportional and see how temperament is. Short wrists, big toes, and frivolous behavior can't pass. In this way, another 1000 people were washed away.
The fourth step is "naked inspection". The remaining 1000 girls were all called into the palace to hold harem elections. By the old eunuch to the secret room, press the breast, check whether it looks quite; Smell the armpit. Finally, touch your whole body to see if you are developed. In this way, another 700 people were washed away.
The fifth step is long-term observation, focusing on temperament. 300 selected girls stayed in the palace for a month to observe their living habits, speaking attitude, intelligence and personality. The first four procedures focus on observing "body", "virtue" and "intelligence". Choose 50 girls who are all-round excellent in morality, intelligence and physique, and finally become Zhu Youxiao's concubines.
From 5000 people, 50 people were finally selected. Therefore, as the saying goes, "one in a hundred". By the Ming Dynasty, it was estimated that all the queens were selected through this "elimination method".
The emperor didn't choose his own concubines.
Zhu Youxiao's concubine has been chosen, and the procedure is not over yet. One of the fifty women in the world, the queen of the palace should also choose.
It took a lot of effort to choose the queen, and neither the eunuch nor the supervisor Li Si had the right to decide. Therefore, Zhao Fei, the first emperor who just ascended the throne of the Queen Mother, was invited to "interview" these 50 people. Princess Zhao interviewed them one by one and asked them to write, count, recite poems and draw pictures to test their cultural quality. Finally, Wang and Duan were selected.
Zhao Fei will three people checked it again. She ordered the experienced female eunuch to take three more people to the secret room, observe according to the above method and report what she saw to Zhao Fei.
At that time, palace officials reported the situation in Zhang Yan to Zhao Fei:
That year, the fifteenth day of the second year, I was graceful and plump, with a face like Guanyin, a color like sunrise snow and water like lotus. The temples are like spring clouds, the eyes are like eyes, the mouth is like cherry blossoms, the nose is like bravery, the teeth are white and clean, and the top and bottom are wide and wide, and the blessings are pleasant; The collar is white and long, and the shoulders are round and straight.
Zhao Fei told Zhu Youxiao the truth about the medical examination. Also called Zhang Qian, Wang, Duan to account. At that time, Zhu Youxiao's nurse Keshi was also present. Keshi is 30 years old, but she is well dressed. Zhu Youxiao was confused and named her "Saint". When the guests found out that they were in love, they frowned and said Zhang 15 years old, so plump. When she grows up in the future, she will become fat and have no amorous feelings. The guests thought Wang was very nice and graceful.
Out of respect for the family members of the guests, I was embarrassed to refute it in person, so I asked Zhao of Guangmiao to make a decision. Zhao, the selected waiter, knew what this meant and said, "All three are beautiful. Zhao Jun in ancient times had a hard time with Yuhuan. If you are blessed and chaste, Zhang's daughter is especially good. " Finally, she became a queen, the king became a virtuous princess, and Duan became a pure princess.
Zhangyan became the best woman in the world. After Zhu Youxiao died, he became a widow. Chen Derun, the leader of the new emperor's harem, wanted to marry Zhang Yan, but Zhang Yan flatly refused. After Zhu Youjian knew it, he sent Chen Derun to Nanjing Xiaoling to grow vegetables. He really became a vegetable farmer. After Li Zicheng captured the capital, Zhang Yan hanged himself and died. Of course, the specific standards and requirements for the physical examination of concubines may also change because of the emperor's personal preferences, but one thing is that the selection of imperial concubines is not the emperor's decision, and the emperor is just a "consumer."